THE CHAMP’S SPIDER: This 1976 Alfa Romeo was once owned by Muhammad Ali

September 5, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

This 1976 Alfa Romeo Spider (Lot #726) was purchased new by boxing great Muhammad Ali, who later gifted it to his friend, the current owner.

World-famous celebrities live so much of their lives in the public eye that most people feel like they know them. But few truly do. Only the inner circle, those closest to the celebrity, away from the flash of cameras, get to witness the true essence of the person.

Take boxing great Muhammad Ali, for instance. Brash, proud, instantly recognizable worldwide. Everyone had an opinion about Ali. But few ever got to witness the private Ali, a man who could be extraordinarily generous to his friends. How generous? He simply gave this 1976 Alfa Romeo Spider (Lot #726) to his friend Tim Shanahan during a time of need. That very car will be offered for No Reserve at the 11th Annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction, September 27-29.

Shanahan had met Ali in Chicago, where Tim was involved in charitable organizations aimed at steering youth away from trouble. Ali volunteered to speak at some of the charities’ events, and the boxing champ and Shanahan became fast friends. Shanahan later wrote a book about his experiences, titled “Running With the Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship with Muhammad Ali.”

As recounted in the book, Shanahan was with Ali when he purchased the Alfa. Ali had just won his third bout against Ken Norton and was in a mood to spend money. They went shopping at European Imports in Lake Forest, Illinois, north of Chicago, where Ali picked out a Rolls-Royce. He then asked for a convertible he could buy for his girlfriend (and later third wife) Veronica, and decided on the Alfa. Unfortunately, Ali had forgotten Veronica couldn’t drive a stick shift, so the car ended up being more his than hers.

Flash forward three years ‒ Shanahan was on the verge of moving to California, when his car was stolen. Ali stepped up to help his friend. “He just threw the keys and said, ‘This is yours,’” Shanahan recalled. Shanahan and his wife have owned the Alfa ever since.

Equipped with a 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder and 5-speed manual, the Spider is in solid original condition and “drives beautifully,” Shanahan says. It was featured on “Jay Leno’s Garage,” Season 4, in the “Cars of the Sports Stars” episode. The Alfa comes with the registration signed by Ali, and a copy of “Running With the Champ” signed by the author. As for floating like a butterfly or stinging like a bee, that is entirely up to the winning bidder.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the 2018 Las Vegas docket, click HERE.